• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.157-160
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• 2008

The generation of high-purity hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels is essential for efficient operation of fuel cell. In general, most feasible strategies to generate hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels consist of a reforming step to generate a mixture of $H_2$, CO, $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ (steam) followed by water gas shift (WGS) and CO clean-up steps. The WGS reaction that shifts CO to $CO_2$ and simultaneously produces another mole of $H_2$ was carried out in a two-stage catalytic conversion process involving a high temperature shift (HTS) and a low temperature shift (LTS). In a typical operation, gas emerges from the reformer is taken through a high temperature shift catalyst to reduce the CO concentration to about 3~5%. The HTS reactor was designed and tested in this study to produce hydrogen-rich gas with CO to a range of 2~4%. The iron based catalysts (G-3C) was used for the HTS to convert the most of CO in the effluent from the partial oxidation (POX) to $H_2$ and $CO_2$ at a relatively high rate. Parametric screening studies were carried out for variations of the following variables: reaction temperature, steam flow rate, components ratio ($H_2/CO$), and reforming gas flow rate.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2018

This study deals with a process for the recovery of hydrogen isotopes from methane ($CQ_4$) and water ($Q_2O$) containing tritium in the nuclear fusion exhaust gas (Q is Hydrogen, Deuterium, Tritium). Steam Methane Reforming and Water Gas Shift reactions are used to convert $CQ_4$ and $Q_2O$ to $Q_2$ and the produced $Q_2$ is recovered by the subsequent Pd membrane. In this study, one circulation loop consisting of catalytic reactor, Pd membrane, and circulation pump was applied to recover H components from $CH_4$ and $H_2O$, one of $CQ_4$ and $Q_2O$. The conversion of $CH_4$ and $H_2O$ was measured by varying the catalytic reaction temperature and the circulating flow rate. $CH_4$ conversion was 99% or more at the catalytic reaction temperature of $650^{\circ}C$ and the circulating flow rate of 2.0 L/min. $H_2O$ conversion was 96% or more at the catalytic reaction temperature of $375^{\circ}C$ and the circulating flow rate of 1.8 L/min. In addition, the amount of $CQ_4$ generated by Korean Demonstration Fusion Power Plant (K-DEMO) in the future was predicted. Then, the treatment process for the $CQ_4$ was proposed and HAZOP (hazard and operability) analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors and operation problems of the process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1268-1272
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• 2008

Low temperature plasma applied with partial oxidation is a technique to produce synthesis gas from methane. Low temperature plasma reformer has superior miniaturization and start-up characteristics to reformers using steam reforming or CO$_2$ reforming. In this research, a low temperature plasma reformer using GlidArc discharge was proposed. Reforming characteristics for each of the following variables were studied: gas components ratio (O$_2$/CH$_4$), the amount of steam, comparison of reaction on nickle and iron catalysts and the amount of CO$_2$. The optimum conditions for hydrogen production from methane was found. The maximum Hydrogen concentration of 41.1% was obtained under the following in this condition: O$_2$/C ratio of 0.64, total gas flow of 14.2 L/min, catalyst reactor temperature of 672$^{\circ}C$, the amount of steam was 0.8, reformer energy density of 1.1 kJ/L with Ni catalyst in the catalyst reactor. At this point, the methane conversion rate, hydrogen selectivity and reformer thermal efficiency were 66%, 93% and 35.2%, respectively.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.656-662
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• 2007

Fuel reformer using plasma and shift reactor for CO oxidation were designed and manufactured as $H_2$ supply device to operate a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). $H_2$ selectivity was increased by non-thermal plasma reformer using GlidArc discharge with Ni catalyst simultaneously. Shift reactor was consisted of steam generator, low temperature shifter, high temperature shifter and preferential oxidation reactor. Parametric screening studies of fuel reformer were conducted, in which there were the variations of the catalyst temperature, gas component ratio, total gas ratio and input power. and parametric screening studies of shift reactor were conducted, in which there were the variations of the air flow rate, stema flow rate and temperature. When the $O_2/C$ ratio was 0.64, total gas flow rate was 14.2 l/min, catalytic reactor temperature was $672^{\circ}C$ and input power 1.1 kJ/L, the production of $H_2$ was maximized 41.1%. And $CH_4$ conversion rate, $H_2$ yield and reformer energy density were 88.7%, 54% and 35.2% respectively. When the $O_2/C$ ratio was 0.3 in the PrOx reactor, steam flow ratio was 2.8 in the HTS, and temperature were 475, 314, 260, $235^{\circ}C$ in the HTS, LTS, PrOx, the conversion of CO was optimized conditions of shift reactor using simulated reformate gas. Preheat time of the reactor using plasma was 30 min, component of reformed gas from shift reactor were $H_2$ 38%, CO<10 ppm, $N_2$ 36%, $CO_2$ 21% and $CH_4$ 4%.

• Clean Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2011

The intrinsic $CO_2$ separation and hydrogen production system is a novel concept using oxidation and reduction reactions of oxygen carrier for both $CO_2$ capture and high purity hydrogen production. The process consists of a fuel reactor (FR), a steam reactor (SR) and an air reactor (AR). The natural gas ($CH_4$) is oxidized to $CO_2$ and steam by the oxygen carrier in FR, whereas the steam is reduced to hydrogen by oxidation of the reduced oxygen carrier in SR. The oxygen carrier is fully oxidized by air in AR. In the present study, the chemical looping moving bed reactor having 200 L/h hydrogen production capacity is designed and the hydrodynamic properties were determined. Compared with other reactors, two moving bed reactors (FR, SR) were used to obtain high conversion and selectivity of the oxygen carrier. The desirable solid circulation rates are calculated to be in the range of $20{\sim}100kg/m^2s$ from the conceptual design. The solid circulation rate can be controlled by aeration in a loop-seal. To maintain the gas velocity in the moving beds (FR, SR) at the minimum fluidization velocity is found to be suitable for the stable operation. The solid holdup in moving beds decrease with increasing gas velocity and solid circulation rate.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Energy Engineering kosee Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.171-184
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• 2002

Approx. 200,000 bpd vacuum residue oil is produced from oil refineries in Korea. These are supplying to use asphalt, high sulfur fuel oil, and upgrading at the residue hydro-desulfurization unit. Vacuum residue oil has high energy content, however high sulfur content and high concentration of heavy metals represent improper low grade fuel. To meet growing demand for effective utilization of vacuum residue oil from refineries, recently some of the oil refinery industries in Korea, such as SK oil refinery and LG Caltex refinery, have already proceeded feasibility study to construct 435-500 MWe IGCC power plant and hydrogen production facilities. Recently, KIER(Korea Institute of Energy Research) are studing on the Vacuum Residue gasification process using an oxygen-blown entrained-flow gasifier. The experiment runs were evaluated under the reaction temperature : 1,100~1,25$0^{\circ}C$, reaction pressure : 1~6kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$G, oxygen/V.R ratio : 0.8~0.9 and steam/V.R ratio : 0.4-0.5. Experimental results show the syngas composition(CO+H$_2$) : 85~93%, syngas flow rate : 50~110Mm$^3$/hr, heating value : 2,300~3,000 ㎉/Nm$^3$, carbon conversion : 65~92, cold gas efficiency : 60~70%. Also equilibrium modeling was used to predict the vacuum residue gasification process and the predicted values were compared reasonably well with experimental data.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2003

Approx. 200.000 bpd vacuum residue oil is produced from oil refineries in Korea, and is supplied to use asphalt, high sulfur fuel oil and for upgrading at the residue hydro-desulfurization unit. Vacuum residue oil has high energy content, however its high sulfur content and high concentration of heavy metals represent improper low grade fuel. To meet growing demand for effective utilization of vacuum residue oil from refineries, recently some of the oil refinery industries in Korea, such as SK oil refinery and LG Caltex refinery, have already proceeded feasibility study to construct 435~500 MWe IGCC power plant and hydrogen production facilities. Recently, KIER (Korea Institute of Energy Research) are studying on the Vacuum Residue gasification process using an oxygen-blown entrained-flow gasifier. The experiment runs were evaluated under the reaction temperature: 1.100~l,25$0^{\circ}C$, reaction pressure: 1~6 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$G, oxygen/V.R ratio: 0.8~0.9 and steam/V.R ratio: 0.4~0.5. Experimental results show the syngas composition (CO+H$_2$): 85~93%, syngas flow rate: 50~l10 Nm$^3$/hr, heating value: 2,300~3,000 k㎈/Nm$^3$, carbon conversion: 65~92, cold gas efficiency: 60~70%. Also equilibrium modeling was used to predict the vacuum residue gasification process and the predicted values were compared reasonably well with experimental data.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.218-225
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• 2014

Catalytic gasification of raw coals at mild condition is not realized yet mainly due to deactivation of catalysts via their irreversible interaction with mineral matters in coal. In this work, the gasification behavior of ash-free coal (AFC) was compared with that of the parent raw coal. In order to modify the gasification conditions, the raw coal gasified with fixed variables (water supply, space velocity, temperature, catalysts) in a fixed bed reactor. When catalysts are added by physical mixing method with coal, $K_2CO_3$ was the most effective additives for steam gasification of coal. However, the activity of ash-free coal (AFC) was much less reactive than raw coal due to high temperature extraction in a 1-methylnaphthalene under 30bar at $370^{\circ}C$ for 1 h, almost removed oxygen functional groups, and increased carbonization. The addition of $K_2CO_3$ in AFC achieved higher conversion rate at low temperature ($700^{\circ}C$). At that time, the molar ratio of gases ($H_2/CO$ and $CO_2/CO$) was increased because of water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) by addition of catalysts. This shows that catalytic steam gasification of AFCs is achievable for economic improvement of gasification process at mild temperature.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2016

This is a numerical study on the curved channel type of hydrogen reformer using the commercial code of fluid dynamics. We numerically compared the numerical model in a previous study model and the modelling of a tube type curved channel. In the result of numerical analysis on 4 types of curved channel reformers, the methanol conversion efficiency of type 1~4 were 45.0%, 45.3%, 45.6%, 45.6% respectively, and there was hardly any difference by ${\pm}0.6%$. In light of flow characteristics, the rectangle type tube and the type 2 with $45^{\circ}$ turn showed most uniform flow characteristics and concentration distribution of methanol, and the circular type tube and the type 3 with $90^{\circ}$ turn had most un-uniform flow characteristics and concentration distribution of methanol. We concluded that the design for curved channel reformer has to have rectangle type tube with curve of almost $45^{\circ}$ as in the type of curved pipe with $45^{\circ}$ turn.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 2020

Methanol synthesized from renewable hydrogen and captured CO2 has recently attracted great interest as a sustainable energy carrier for large-scale renewable energy storage. In this study, molten carbonate fuel cell's performance was investigated with the direct conversion of methanol into syngas inside the anode chamber of the cell. The internal reforming of methanol may significantly improve system efficiency since the heat generated from the electrochemical reaction can be used directly for the endothermic reforming reaction. The porous Ni-10 wt%Cr anode was sufficient for the methanol steam reforming reaction under the fuel cell operating condition. The direct supply of methanol into the anode chamber resulted in somewhat lower cell performance, especially at high current density. Recycling of the product gas into the anode gas inlet significantly improved the cell performance. The analysis based on material balance revealed that, with increasing current density and gas recycling ratio, the methanol steam reforming reaction rate likewise increased. A methanol conversion more significant than 90% was achieved with gas recycling. The results showed the feasibility of electricity and syngas co-production using the molten carbonate fuel cell. Further research is needed to optimize the fuel cell operating conditions for simultaneous production of electricity and syngas, considering both material and energy balances in the fuel cell.